I think there may be another possibility. What if Saddam did dismantle his WMD program - which may include burying it, secretly shipping it to Syria, etc? Saddam was still not cooperating with the weapon inspectors (although Hans Blix was just plain useless, then throw in whatever bribery was going on). Could Saddam have then been playing a bluff - to give an impression in the region that he still had active WMD's, ready to go? If he was indeed bluffing, then, HE LOST BIGTIME!
Absolutely possible. IMHO, probable that this was the scenario. I suspect the French were telling him not to worry.
Now that the artillery shell was found, and Gen. Kimmit has announced the find of a stockpile in an ammo dump, that scenario is out the window. Hey libs, here's the WMD's!
(butbutbutbut Bush planted them! /foaming.at.mouth /Bagdad.Bob)